Abuja Court Gives Two Boko Haram Suspects Their Freedom Due To “Poor Prosecution”

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja on Wednesday acquitted two Boko Haram suspects who were arrested over five years ago. The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, freed the defendants on the ground of what she described as poor prosecution by the Federal Government.

The freed defendants, Ibrahim Ahmed and Sani Argungu, were arraigned by the Federal Government for alleged ties with Boko Haram. Discharging the defendants, Justice Nyako noted that Ahmed had been in detention since 2013 while Argungu had been detained since 2012.

The court further noted that since the time of their arrest and prosecution, the government prosecutors were yet to call any witness.

“The defendants have been in custody with no trial because the prosecution cannot bring its witnesses to court. So, I discharge the defendants and the suit is hereby struck out,” the court held. Justice Nyako, however, held that whenever the prosecution was able to get its witnesses to attend court, the defendants could be re-arraigned. The judge added that the defendants, although discharged, would be monitored.

The court warned them not to associate with any person of questionable character. Ibrahim, who said in his statement that he was a security guard at the Government House, Sokoto, was alleged to have been responsible for giving passage to Boko Haram members.